Cane-planter.



No. 798,612. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

A. MARIANI.

GANE PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOVA. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTOHN WIT/VESSES;

PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

A. MARIANI.

CANE PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOVA. 1904.

No. 798,612. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. A. MARIANI. CANE PLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 4, 1904.

ANTONI() MARIANI, OF YAUUO, PORT() RICO.

CANEnFLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1 905.

Application led November 4, 1904. Serial No. 231.416.

Beit known that I AN'roNro MARIANI a l citizen of lorto Rico, and a resident of Yauco, Porto Rico, have invented a new and VImproved Cane-Planter, of which the following is a full, cl war, and exact description.

'Ihis invention relates to improvements in machines for planting' sugar-cane, the object being to provide a planter of simple and comparatively inexpensive construction b y means of which ground-excavations for receiving the shoots or lengths of`cane may be quickly and evenly made and the dirt covered over the cane.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the general description.

I will describe a cane-planter embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, Vforming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

Figure I is a plan of a cane-planter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. I). isa sectional elevation, and Eig. 4 is a sectional detail, showing a shifting mechanism employed.

'Ihe machine comprises a main frame I, having a tongue 2 at its forward end to which draft-animals may be attached, and this main frame is mounted on wheels 3, the said wheels being attached to a shaft i, having bearings in boxes secured to the frame. It may be here stated that in planting` cane furrows are lirst made by a plow and then the excavations Vfor the cane are madein these `furrows. It is therefore necessary that the machine should be so arranged as to prevent any lateral slipping relatively to a 'furrow in which the excavations are being' made. For this purpose I employ two pairs of spikes 5 6, adapted, when the machine is in operation, to be Vforced outward beyond the periphery of one of the wheels, so as to engage in the ground. `\\'hen the machine is being moved, however, Yfrom place to place without operating, the said spikes are to be moved inward. rIhe two spikes 5 are connected to a crosshead T, from which a rod 8 extends. and is arranged to slide in keepers 9, attached to a spoke of the wheel, and from the inner end of said rod a link l0 extends to pivotal connection with a block Il, mounted on a rod 1Q, which extends through a tubular portion of i the shaft et, and on the inner end of this rod IQ is a pin passing' through a slot in the shaft and engaging in a channel formed in a ring l2", engaged by a shifting-lever I3, within easy reach of the driver on a seat ,14, supported on a spring I5, attached to side bars of the main frame. 'Ihe spikes 6 are connected to a cross-head lo, `from which an actuating-rod IT extends through keepers I8, mounted on a spoke of the wheel, and from the inner end of this rod 1T a link 19 extends to a connection with the block 1I. By this arrangement when the block IlV is drawn inward or toward the wheel the spikes will be moved outward to the position indicated in full lines in Figs. I and lVhen the block 1I is Aforced outward, the drawing upon the links l() and 19 will move the spikes inward of the wheel-periphery.

Mounted to swing on the axle -I and extended rearward underneath the main Vframe is an auxiliary frame 2l), and on the rear end of this auxiliary frame is a seat 2l, upon which it is designed a boymaysit to place the shoots in the excavations, as will be hereinafter described. One of the side members of the auxiliary frame i2() has a forward extension Q2, provided with a foot-piece 23, and when the machine is in operation this Vforward extension Q0 rests normally on a locking-bolt 24, mounted to slide in a tubular cross-piece consisting' of two spaced members Q5 26, which are connected to the main frame. 'Ihe portion of the rod Q-t which passes in the tubular member 25 has a pin 27, which extends outward through a slot 2S formed longitudinally in said member and engages in aslotin a horizontally-moving shifting-lever 2S), pivoted on a bracket 30. The forward extension Q2 has mounted on it a counterweight 31, which when said forward extension is released from the bolt 24. will cause an upward movement of the rear portion of the auxiliary frame, so that the machine may be readily drawn over the ground without operating, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This swinging movement may be assisted by the driver placing his foot on the Vfoot-piece Q3. '.Ihe auxiliary frame rearward ofthe shaft I is supported by a roller 32, and having swinging connection with said auxiliary frame is a chopper-carrying frame As here shown, this frame 325 has a forwardly and upwardly extended arm 3l, mounted on a shaft 3:3, having' bearings in uprights 36 on the auxiliary frame, and forward of the 'fulcrum-point of said arm there is a spring connection 3T between it and said IOO IOS

auxiliary frame, whereby the rear portion of the chopper-carrying frame will be moved upward, as will be hereinafter mentioned.` To move the chopper-carrying frame downward, the arm 34 is designed to be engaged successively by tappet-rods 38 39, attached to and extended across between spaced disks 40 41, rigidly attached to the axle 4. These rods 33 39 are diametrically opposite each other, and it is to be understood that while only two are shown agreater number may be employed, or, in fact, but one may be employed, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Carried by the frame 33 isashaft 42, mounted on which are radial ground-chopping-blades 43. As here shown, these blades are arranged at a slight tangent with relation to the axle or shaft and are curved from the center outward in both directions toward the shaft, so as to operate to throw the broken ground laterally. `Carried by the frame 33 at each end of the chopping' device are triangular smoothingplates 44, which will serve to smooth the broken ground or spread it away slightly at the sides of the chopped-out cavity.

Rearward of the chopping device and carried by the frame 33 is as moothing-plate 45, designed to smooth the bottom of the cavity a' in which the sticks of cane are to be placed.

On the shaft of the chopping device is a sprocket-pinion 46, from which a chain 47 extends to a sprocket-wheel48, rigidly attached to the axle 4. the drawings, is crossed, so that during the forward movement of the machine the chopping device will be rotated in the proper direction to throw the dirt upward and forward.

As a means for covering the dirt over the sticks in the excavations I employ a scraper 49, which is substantially V-shaped or has its sides divergent in a forward direction. rIhis scraper 49 is mounted on a rock-shaft 50, having bearings in the side members of the frame 20, and extended upward from the opposite ends of the shaft 50 and along the ends of the seat 2l are actuating-levers 51, by means of which the boy on the seat may impart a rocking motion to the scraper to throw it against the ground or away from the ground.

Forward of the chopping device and mounted in a cross-bar 52, attached to the auxiliary frame, are scoring-rods 53, the sharpened lower ends of which are designed to engage slightly in the ground to break up any hardened surface that might appear.

I have before mentioned that it is necessary to provide means to prevent lateral slipping of the machine while in operation. It is, further, quite necessary that the machine shall travel on a practically level plane or, in other words, be prevented from tilting or jumping up and down at one side or the other, which might be caused by the wheels 3 engaging' with rocks or stones or the roller 32 engaging with a stone. l therefore provide This chain, as clearly shown in in front of the wheels and roller stone-clearing devices. Arranged forward of the wheels 3 and in line of movement therewith are triangular clearing-plates 54, the said plates being attached to arms 55, having swinging connection with the side members of the main frame, and from these rods or arms 55 chains 56 extend to connections with crank-arms 57, attached to a rock-shaft 58. Extended forward from this rock-shaft 58 is an arm 59, from which a tappet-arm 60 extends laterally and normally engages under the. extension 22 of the auxiliary frame. By this arragement Y when the said extension is lowered, as hereinbefore mentioned, to raise the rear portion of the auxiliary frame the rock-shaft 58 will be actuated to raise the plates 54 a suitable distance above the ground to prevent their engaging with obstacles when the machine is drawn from place to place and not in operation. From a cross-rod 61, attached to the arms or rods 55, extends a chain 62, which connects with a triangular clearingplate 63 forward of the vroller 32 and designed to force stones or the like laterally out of the line of movement of said roller. When the clearing-plates 54 are raised, as above mentioned, the plate 63 will also be raised, as its supporting-arms have pivotal connection with the auxiliary frame. Arranged on the main frame at a convenient point above the sea-t 2l is a receptacle 64 for the sticks of cane to be planted.

In the operation the attendant will take from the receptacle 64 the desired number of sticks to be planted and hand the same to the boy on the seat 21. As the machine moves forward and as the tappets 38 and 39 engage with the arm 34 the rotary chopping device will be forced downward and by its rotary movement will cut a short trench; but as soon as a tappet 33 or 39 leaves the arm the spring 37 will move the chopping device upward to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, where it will remain until the machine reaches a point for another trench or excavation. The boy on the seat 2l will place the cane-sticks in the formed trench and then by operating the scraper 49 will force the dirt over the same. It will be seen that a machine embodying my invention, so far as preparation of the ground for planting is concerned, is practically automatic and may be operated by very little manual exertion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A planter comprising a wheel-mounted main frame, a vertically-swinging frame therein, a chopper mounted to rotate in said swinging frame and comprising longitudinally-disposed blades arranged at a slight tangent with relation to the axis of the chopper, and means actuated from the machine-axle for rotating the chopper.

2. A planter comprising a wheel-mounted main trame, a Vtrame having' swinging' relation to the main trame, a rotary chopper mounted in the swinging trame, and a `acraper V'arried by the swinging' trame rearward ot' the chopper.

3, ln a planter, a wheel mounted main frame, a trame having,l vertical Swingingl relation to the main trame, a rotary chopper carried in the `Swinging; frame, a Scraper carried in the swinging frame rearward ot' the chopper, and triangular plates at the end y ot the chopper.

JC. ln a plantel', a wheel mounted main frame. an auxiliary frame mounted to swing on the axle ot` the machine, a tappet-rod-carrying' disk mounted on the axle, a choppercarryine' trame having Swinging' connection with the auxiliary frame, and an arm extended forward trom Said chopper-carrying' frame t'or engaging' with the tappeti-rml. y

ln a planter, a main trame, an axle on which the main trame is supported, wheels on the axle, an auxiliary trame mounted to Swing' on the axle, a supporting'-roller therefor, and a chop])er-carrying' frame having' Swinging' connection with the auxiliary trame.

6, In a planter, a wheel mounted main frame, an auxiliary Vtrame mounted to swing' on thc axle ot' the machine, a Seat on the rear end ot' Said auxiliary frame, divergent platee mounted to swing' underneath Said seat, a chopper-carrying' trame having' swinging' connection with the auxiliary frame, Scoring' devices carried hy the auxiliary frame Vforward ot' the chopper-carryingl frame, a chopper mounted to rotate in said chopper carrying' trame, means operated from the axle of the machine for causing' Such rotation, and means Vforraising' and lowering' said chopper-Carrying' trame with relation to the ground.

7. YIn a planter, a wheel -mounted main trame, an auxiliary frame mounted to swing on the axle of the machine, the said auxiliary trame having a forward extension` a counterhalance on Said extension, a movable Supporting, device upon which the said extension is designed t reSt when the machine is in operation, and a vertically-swing'ing ehopper-carrying' trame mounted in the auxiliary trame.

8. In a plantel', a wheel-mounted main frame, a cane-reclaitacle on said main frame, an auxiliary trame mounted to swing; on the axle ot' the machine, a Seat at the rear end of said auxiliary trame, a covering' device mounted to Swing' underneath said seat, a choppercarrying' Vframe having vertical swinging; connection with the auxiliary frame, a springl t'or movine'said cheplier-carryingl frame in one direction, and means for automatically moving' it in the other direction.

t). A cane-planter comprising' a wheelmounted main frame, an auxiliary t'rame mounted to swing on the machine-axle, the said auxiliary Vtrame heilig extended rearward t'rom the axle, a covering' device carried hy said auxiliary trame, a choppercarrying' trame having' vertical swinging' connection with the auxiliary frame, an arm extended upward from said chopper-carrying' trame, spaced disks secured to the axle ot' the ma chine, and rods extended between `Said disks tor engaging with Said arm to move the chopper-carrying' trame in one direction.

l n testimony whereof l have signed my name to thisspecilication in the presence ot' twosuh- Scrihing' witnesses.

ANTONI() MARIANI.

Witnesses:

Jxo. H. Rrr'lruc, (l. R. Fnuensox. 

